Preston’s most deprived areas revealed

A huge swathe of Preston is among the most deprived areas in the country, the Lancashire Evening Post can reveal.

A new government map shows the gap between the rich and the poor, comparing every neighbourhood in Preston.

Grimshaw Street/Church Street, Preston

It reveals that parts of Ribbleton are among the two per cent most deprived communities in England, while leafy Greyfriars features among the most affluent.

The index of multiple deprivation, which takes into account income, employment, education skills and training, health deprivation and disability, crime and living environment, shows the 86 individual neighbourhoods in Preston and their ranking in terms of deprivation, compared with a total of 32,844 areas in England.

It shows stark contrasts in adjoining areas, such as parts of Ingol which are in the 10 per cent most deprived, which shares a border with Lea, ranked in the 20 per cent least deprived.

Preston’s MP Mark Hendrick said the disparity was “not right”. He added: “It divides communities, it creates tensions between different communities.

“Whatever government is in power, everybody should have a stake in society and have a future, and at the very least be able to afford to feed their families and have decent accommodation and schools and health.”

Larches

The area of Larches taking in parts of Larches Lane and Thurnham Road is within the 20 per cent most deprived neighbourhoods.

In terms of health, the area is ranked within the 10 per cent most deprived.

Ingol

Parts of Ingol, around Barry Avenue and part of Whitby Avenue, are among the 10 per cent most deprived communities in the country.

Ingol borders Greyfriars to the east and Lea to the west, which are some of the city’s most affluent areas.

The area including Lightfoot Lane and Wychnor is ranked 31,175 out of 32,844 neighbourhoods in the country in the index, making it within the 10 per cent least deprived areas.

The section of Lea ward taking in Merrytrees Lane and Miller Lane in Cottam is among the 20 per cent least deprived zones.

Town Centre

Parts of Preston’s town centre fall within the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country, including Queen Street and Grimshaw Street.

Other zones, including around Winckley Square and Avenham Park, are within the 30 per cent most deprived.

Moor Park

Some areas within the city’s Moor Park ward fall within the 20 per cent most deprived neighbourhoods in England.

The area including parts of Blackpool Road, Garstang Road and part of St Thomas’ Road and Lovat Road is ranked at number 567 out of 32,844 in terms of crime, putting it within the top two per cent.

Parts of the neighbourhood are less than half a mile from College ward, which is among the 20 per cent least deprived areas of the country.

St Matthews

All of St Matthew’s ward is among the 10 per cent most deprived areas in England in the index of multiple deprivation.

Coun Roy Leeming said: “The figures are scary.” He said the area was improving, with efforts to improve green space, and Friends of Fishwick and St Matthew’s projects focusing on social inclusion and helping people into work.

Coun Leeming said: “If you look at the area, it’s the most densely populated area in Preston, it’s surrounded by the worst roads for pollution, New Hall Lane and London Road, there are poor conditions, a lack of open space, a lack of amenities and very poor housing conditions.

“It is obvious these are going to reflect on the health figures for the area.

“It’s not a surprise that the figures are so bad but there is a determination, I think, to tackle that.”

Ribbleton

Parts of Ribbleton fall at number 435 in the index of multiple deprivation - within the two per cent most deprived communities in England.

In terms of education, the ranking drops as low as 146 in some parts, and it falls at number 525 out of 32,844 for income.

Coun Brian Rollo said work was ongoing to bring communities together, but said: “It doesn’t stop the deprivation, because deprivation basically is economic.

“In the Farringdon Park area we’ve put a lot of effort into trying to keep the community centre going and that’s buzzing now and that helps.”

He described the issues as “like turning a battleship around” and said: “It is very slow to start with, We’ve been trying to turn things around for a long time.”